Manchester Mall Evacuation Over, Stores Open After Gas Smell

Firefighters are at the scene of a gas leak at The Shoppes at Buckland Hills mall.

MANCHESTER — Holiday shopping is in full swing at The Shoppes at Buckland Hills mall after the odor of natural gas sparked an evacuation and delayed store openings Thursday.

The odor was detected in the food court area about 7:15 a.m., said Donald Moore, chief of the Manchester Fire Department, Eighth Utilities District. Only that part of the mall — about a quarter of the building — was affected, he said.

Although stores are closed at that hour, people walk in the mall for exercise. They had to be directed away from the closed-off area, Moore said.

Connecticut Natural Gas employees and firefighters tried to find the source of the odor and eventually learned that the pilot lights in the stoves at several restaurants were out. The CNG representatives re-lit the pilot lights, the chief said.